date: Wednesday 12 December 2001 embargo: immediate release

Attention: industrial and economic correspondents

unemployment figures rise again

In response to official unemployment figures released today, John Monks, TUC General Secretary, said:

'The overall rise in unemployment is disappointing, but it is encouraging that the total number of people in work has so far remained stable.

'Our big concern is the continued flood of job losses in manufacturing.

'We need action on two fronts. Firstly, the Bank of England should cut interest rates again in January - inflation is at a record low and average earnings growth remains stable and non-inflationary.

'Secondly, we believe the Chancellor should deliver a Budget for industry. We give manufacturing less support per worker than almost any other European economy and less in direct support for industrial research and development. If this does not change, then the sector and our regions will continue to suffer.'

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

For details of today’s employment figures go to the Office for National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/press_Release/CurrentReleases.asp

Contacts: Media enquiries: Richard Darlington 0207 467 1337, pager 07654 589 780 or call 020 7467 1248, email media@tuc.org.uk

Press release (200 words) issued 12 Dec 2001